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As a business owner in India, it’s likely you are familiar with the GeM portal or the Government e-Marketplace – the official portal for government departments, ministries and PSU to procure goods and services. Once you register on GeM as a Seller and login to GeM, you can not only participate in government e-tenders, but upload your product/service list and even sell directly on the platform. Upon your first GeM portal login there are some business details you will have to furnish to be able to reap the benefits of the portal.
Key Benefits of Using the GeM Portal
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal offers numerous advantages for businesses engaging in government procurement:
- Access Government Tenders: GeM provides a streamlined platform, allowing businesses of all sizes to bid easily for government contracts.
- Ensure Transparency and Efficiency: The portal promotes transparency, reducing the chances of corruption. The automated, paperless process saves time and resources for both sellers and buyers.
- Achieve Cost Savings: By eliminating intermediaries, GeM helps sellers reduce costs. The competitive pricing on the portal ensures value for money for government buyers, increasing sales volume for sellers.
- Expand Market Reach: Sellers can connect with a broad market of government buyers, including central and state governments, PSUs, and autonomous bodies, offering significant business opportunities.
- Enjoy Ease of Use: The user-friendly design, clear guidelines, and support make it easy for small businesses and startups to register and sell their products or services.
Whether you are a Buyer (government organisation) or Seller, let’s help you understand the GeM portal login process, how to get your GeM login ID, what details you can upload after logging in to your GeM Seller account, and how to reset GeM password if you have forgotten it.
Must Read: GEM Portal Customer Care: Toll-Free Number and Contact Details
GeM portal login process
We’ve already established the fact that whether you are a Buyer or Seller, you will need to register on the GeM portal to buy or sell.
During the GeM portal registration process, you will be provided with a User ID and Password (i.e., your User Credentials) which you can use for subsequent logins to the portal.
Note: When you register and login for the first time, you will need to update your profile. We will cover this in the next section.
Follow the steps below to login to the GeM portal (as a registered and returning user):
How to login on GeM portal?
- Visit the GeM portal homepage: //gem.gov.in/
- Click on the ‘Login’ option on the main menu: //sso.gem.gov.in/ARXSSO/oauth/doLogin
- Fill in your GeM User ID (GeM portal login ID) and type the captcha
- Click on ‘Submit’ to proceed (your password will be created in the next page)
- Enter the password/OTP you will receive to successfully log in with your GeM login ID
Note: After logging in you can view your account dashboard. If you are logging in for the first time, you will be prompted to complete your GeM Seller profile.
Password reset on GeM portal:
To reset your password on GeM portal, follow the below steps:
- Visit the Forgot Password section on GeM portal: //sso.gem.gov.in/ARXSSO/oauth/forgotPassword
- Enter your User ID and captcha
- Click ‘Submit’
An email will be sent to you to the reset password with GeM link. Please note that the password should be at least 8 characters long and alpha-numeric (upper and lower case, numbers, and special characters).
Common Login Issues and How to Resolve Them
While the GeM portal login process is generally straightforward, you may encounter some common issues. Here’s how to resolve them:
- Ensure Browser Compatibility: Use the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge for the best experience. Avoid outdated or incompatible browsers to prevent login issues.
- Address Captcha Problems: If the captcha code is difficult to read, click the reload button to refresh it. Alternatively, use the audio captcha if available.
- Resolve OTP Delays: If your OTP is delayed, try resending it after ensuring your mobile number is correct and has strong network coverage.
- Recover Forgotten Passwords: If you forget your password, click on the ‘Forgot Password’ link, enter your User ID, and follow the prompts to reset your password via the email linked to your account.
Security Best Practices for Managing GeM Portal Credentials
Protecting your GeM portal credentials is crucial for securing your business data. Follow these best practices:
- Create Strong Passwords: Use a password that’s at least 8 characters long, includes upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like your name or birthdate.
- Regularly Change Passwords: Update your password every 60-90 days to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If available, enable 2FA for added security. This usually involves receiving a one-time code on your registered mobile number every time you log in.
- Avoid Phishing Scams: Always verify the source of emails or messages requesting your login details. Don’t click on suspicious links or provide personal information without verifying their legitimacy.
- Log Out After Each Session: Always log out from the GeM portal after completing your tasks, especially when using shared or public computers.
NIC e-Parichay and GeM Buyer login:
In recent news, the Government e-Marketplace portal aims to use the NIC e-Parichay portal for GeM Buyer login.
Existing users can continue logging in to their GeM Buyer account using their GeM Buyer login ID and password (or NIC credentials). However, in time, this will be replaced with NIC e-Parichay authentication to ensure authenticity.
NIC e-Parichay is a single sign-on application (token based) in which a set of login credentials can be used to log in to multiple government platforms. It provides e-Authentication as a service to government departments, and allows authentic and authorised users to access the option.
To know more about NIC e-Parichay, visit the official website: parichay.nic.in/pnv1/assets/about-us.html?v1=1
Advantages of Using NIC e-Parichay for GeM Buyers
NIC e-Parichay offers several benefits to GeM buyers, enhancing the procurement process:
- Enjoy Single Sign-On Convenience: With NIC e-Parichay, you can access multiple government platforms using a single set of login credentials, simplifying your login process.
- Enhance Security: NIC e-Parichay provides token-based e-Authentication, ensuring that only authorized and authenticated users access government services, reducing fraud risk.
- Benefit from Cross-Platform Access: This system allows seamless integration across various government portals, making it easier to manage procurement activities without remembering multiple passwords.
- Save Time: The single sign-on feature saves time by eliminating the need to log in to each platform separately, enhancing procurement operations’ efficiency.
Step-by-step seller guide to GeM portal login
When you do the basic Seller registration process on the Government e-Marketplace, you will be asked to login and complete your profile.
As you are logging in to your GeM account for the first time, your profile details will be incomplete or missing. To ensure that you are able to fully leverage the benefits of the portal completely, such as get direct purchase orders on GeM, you should complete your profile after logging in.
Must Read: NIC Code for MSME Registration
During the registration stage, once your User Credentials are generated (i.e., GeM portal Seller ID and password) you will be prompted to Login.
- Visit the Government e-Marketplace official website: //gem.gov.in/
- Click on ‘Login’ to open the login page with your credentials (see GeM portal login details in the previous section)
- View the Dashboard – Your company name and GeM Seller ID will be displayed
- Notice progress bar is incomplete
- Start updating your profile (ensure you complete each section) to get 100% on progress bar
Once you complete your GeM Seller profile, you can create a catalogue (i.e., GeM product list upload), fulfil orders, and participate in e-Tender bids.
Steps to update Seller profile after Login at GeM Portal
Ensure once you login, you fill in the various fields, in order to complete your GeM registration process and your profile.
- Organisation Profile: This is the snapshot of your GeM Seller profile and comes with details like Business type, Business name and Date of Incorporation.
- Business PAN Validation: This is necessary for tax return purposes and requires you to fill in PAN number, Name (as in PAN), and Date (as in PAN). Note this is as per the Business Type and will vary based on whether you are a Proprietorship, Firm, Company or any other.
- Business Details: This is your Organisation Name and Date of Incorporation.
- Office Location: Here you need to fill in complete office address under ‘Manage Offices’ or ‘Add New Office’ tab – Note for existing offices you can either ‘Delete’ or ‘Edit’ the address. Also, for New Address all fields are mandatory and marked with * (except GSTIN – Note GST is not mandatory for GeM portal registration unless your business exceeds the annual turnover GST registration limit)
- Bank Account Details: You can add details of multiple accounts but select one account as Primary Account. You can ‘Manage Bank Account’ or ‘Add Bank Account’. (Note – For Buyers, it is recommended to use PFMS account). Account Number, IFSC code, Account holder’s name are mandatory.
- Tax Assessment: It’s important to note here that if your business has been in operation for over 2 years and you are not submitting ITR details, you will not be able to participate in GeM tenders bids. Similar to the other sections, you can ‘Manage Tax Assessment’ and ‘Add New Tax Assessment’. You can select the ITR Type and Assessment Year and other details to proceed.
- E-Invoicing: In recent time, e-Invoicing is mandatory for businesses with over ₹5 crores annual turnover. You need to enter your maximum turnover in the last 3 years, check the relevant box and proceed. This will be followed by OTP verification.
- MSME: This is for Micro and Small businesses to leverage specific exemptions, subsidies and benefits. You can download MSME certificate to get your Udyam Registration Number, fill in the other fields, and click on ‘Save’ to proceed.
- Startup: This is for businesses that have registered themselves as a start-up on StartUp India portal.
- Beneficial Ownership Compliance: For this you need to confirm your compliance regarding specific restrictions.
This is the main part of completing your profile. There are some other details that you have to fill in at a later stage (e.g., Logistics, TAN, Vendor Assessment, etc.)
Optimizing Your GeM Seller Profile for Better Visibility
A well-optimized GeM Seller profile increases your chances of being discovered by government buyers. Here’s how to enhance your profile:
- Complete All Profile Sections: Fill out every section of your profile, including organization details, business PAN validation, office location, and bank account details. An incomplete profile may reduce your visibility on the platform.
- Use High-Quality Images: Upload high-quality images that clearly showcase your products. Good visuals can make your listings more attractive to buyers.
- Incorporate Relevant Keywords: Use industry-specific keywords in your product descriptions and company profile to improve searchability. This helps buyers find your products more easily.
- Regularly Update Your Profile: Keep your profile information up to date, especially contact details, product offerings, and certifications. Regular updates signal to buyers that your business is active and reliable.
- Highlight Unique Selling Points (USPs): Clearly communicate what makes your products or services stand out. Highlighting quality certifications, industry awards, or other differentiators helps attract more buyers.
Payment of Caution Money
At this stage you have completed your GeM Seller profile. However, you cannot participate in tenders or sell as your profile is not yet active. To make your profile active, you will have to pay a basic Caution Money on GeM which is based on your annual turnover.
This is a one-time payment and mandatory for all businesses. Remember, this is not the GeM registration fees but a form of security deposit that GeM collects to ensure that only serious sellers are on the platform.
GeM portal login and Caution Money slabs:
Seller’s annual turnover | Caution Money |
Less than ₹1 crore/annum | ₹5,000 |
Between ₹1 crore – ₹10 crores/annum | ₹10,000 |
Above ₹10 crores/annum | ₹25,000 |
Importance of Caution Money and How It Ensures Market Integrity
Caution money plays a critical role on the GeM portal, maintaining the platform’s integrity. Here’s why it matters:
- Deter Non-Serious Sellers: By requiring caution money, GeM ensures that only committed and serious sellers participate, filtering out those who might misuse the platform.
- Boost Buyer Confidence: Caution money assures government buyers that sellers are legitimate and financially stable, increasing buyer confidence.
- Maintain Market Integrity: Caution money acts as a safeguard against fraudulent activities, helping maintain the marketplace’s integrity and credibility.
- Provide Security Deposit: Unlike registration fees, caution money is a one-time refundable deposit, serving as a security measure to ensure sellers comply with the portal’s rules and regulations.
Getting support on GeM portal
The GeM portal has a comprehensive GeM portal customer care to help you with your queries regarding registration, login, payments or any other.
You can:
- Click on ‘Need Help?’ on the top right side menu for – FAQs, Feedback, Document Help, Contact Us
- Email GeM portal at: helpdesk-gem[at]gov[dot]in
- Call GeM toll free number: 1800-419-3436
- Chat with GeM chat bot GeMmy
- Click on ‘Raise a Ticket’ if you wish to raise a complaint
- Connect via GeM social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn
For more details, visit the official GeM portal contact us page: //gem.gov.in/contactUs
Common Issues Faced by Sellers and How to Resolve Them
Sellers on the GeM portal may face various challenges. Here’s how to resolve common issues:
- Address Payment Delays: If you experience delays in receiving payments, update your bank account details in your profile. Raise a ticket through the GeM support system for faster resolution.
- Resolve Profile Verification Issues: Delays in profile verification often stem from incomplete information. Ensure all required documents are uploaded correctly and meet the necessary criteria.
- Fix Tender Participation Problems: If you face issues while participating in tenders, ensure your profile is 100% complete. Keep all sections, especially tax assessments and PAN details, up to date.
- Overcome Catalogue Upload Difficulties: If you encounter issues uploading your product catalogue, ensure the images and descriptions meet the portal’s guidelines. Check the file sizes and formats to ensure they are within the allowed limits.
*This article was originally published on 10 November 2023 and has been updated multiple times to keep it updated with steps and guides. On 30 August 2024, we have updated this update to streamline with internal linking to new relevant articles, updated images to improve relevancy, and additional FAQs relevant to the GeM login process. This is for informational purposes only. All are requested to visit the official GeM portal website for further details.
FAQs
How do I reset my GeM portal password if I forget it?
What is caution money on the GeM portal, and is it refundable?
Can I access multiple government platforms with a single login using NIC e-Parichay?
What should I do if my profile verification on the GeM portal is delayed?
Sohini is a seasoned content writer with 12 years’ experience in developing marketing and business content across multiple formats. At Tata nexarc, she leverages her skills in crafting curated content on the Indian MSME sector, steel procurement, and logistics. In her personal time, she enjoys reading fiction and being up-to-date on trends in digital marketing and the Indian business ecosystem.
Thanks, it is useful. Just one suggestion, some screens would be more helpful. A video guide also pls.
Sure Mukesh, It will be added with latest GeM portal login screens.
Where can I see a list of live tenders that is relevant to my steel business? Does the system suggest any matches, or do I need to search manually? Pls tell
Here is the link for your guide – https://www.tatanexarc.com/sell/tenders/ It has list of all tenders which you can explore and filter. And, even after GeM login, you can use search functionality to find tenders on GeM portal also.
The part about NIC e-Parichay is kind of new no? I’m glad they’re tightening security. Makes me feel safer using the platform.
Yes, it is there now but its been a good time now. I also liked this guide for easy to remember.